Alex Hutton is one of the UK' Jazz's hidden treasures. A fine composer, with an ear for folk and classical influences, he is a gifted, thoughtful improviser and a mainstay of the London Jazz scene who has worked with the leading figures from Jim Mullen and Pete King to Pete Wareham.
Hutton's own albums have been noted for a move away from conventional piano trio music, with a search for fresh approaches to the song form and an emphasis on capturing a broad spectrum of textures.
Magna Carta Suite is his fourth album and offers a musical journey of ideas exploring the layers of history and landscapes from 1215 to 2015. The suite highlights the influence of Magna Carta as a founding document of the western traditions of liberty and democracy in this the 800th anniversary of its signing and its influence in the creation of the American constitution.
Magna Carta Suite features Hutton's long established trio with drummer Asaf Sirkis, who brings a wide palate of colours, a full dynamic range and an optimism and calmness which is essential on both the studio and live dates' and bassist Yuri Goloubev, who can both lead and accompany like no other bass player I have met and whose roots in classical music mean his sound is sonorous and distinct. The album also features spoken word from Neil Sparkes on the last 2 pieces and his words and performance (from a larger publication 'Xerox sonnets & X-Ray Blues ' which will be published by Hesterglock Press in June 2015) add a huge dimension and drama to the album.
The inspiration for Magna Carta Suite came on Hutton's daily dog walk through the ancient woodland where the Magna Carta was signed, between the villages of Wraysbury and Runnymede, near Windsor. Capitalizing on the wide range of colours and textures available to him with his trio, he composed a suite that draws on music from northern European and especially English sources over the last 800 years. Hutton then tied these themes to specific political or social events in history. Using early music, baroque classical and English folk as melodic and harmonic fragments Hutton depicts a forward momentum in the music as Western music developed in parallel with the pursuit of liberty and democracy.
Alex Hutton Trio are: Alex Hutton (piano), Yuri Goloubev (bass), Asaf Sirkis (drums).Neil Sparkes (vocals) on tracks 11,12.Liz Palmer (baroque flute) on tracks 1, 10, 12.Liesbeth Allart (cor anglias) on tracks 2,9.All titles composed by Alex Hutton; except tracks 11 and 12 written by Alex Hutton and Neil Sparkes.All titles are published by Copyright Control, except tracks 11 and 12 published by ARM ltd.Recorded in August 2014 at Masterchord Studio, London. Engineered by Raoul Terzi, assisted by Michele G Catri.Mixed and mastered by Simon Charger at North Seven Studios.Artwork by Alban Low.
